Topic: noobie from seattle~

[CB noobie]

Hello everyone,

My name is Young and currently a student at the UW. I got the bike about two weeks ago from the original owner. He even gave me his original loan application. I got it for just under a grand. It has about 50000 miles on it, it's in running condition but the engine is making some tapping noise at low rpm. The previous owner wasn't sure what was wrong with it but he said he rides it often. I don't have a garage but I do have have a little storage for my tools and such. I am planning to "work" on it over the winter and have it ready for the spring, hopefully. I just ordered some new copper coil wires, oil filter, spark plug caps, and some pods for the intake. I think I need to clean out the carb but don't know how to do it, more like afraid to. I'll asking a lot of noobie questions so please don't get irritated by my questions. =)

I wasn't sure which spark plug I need, the manual says NGK-D8ES but can't find them. What do you guys recommend?
Also, anyone from this area who could help me with the engine? not looking for a free repair but I'll pay as much as I can afford (still a student). =)

Thank you for your help in advance.

Young

[andy750]

Welcome from Nagoya, Japan!

Is your bike sunrise orange? The best colour! :-D Its a CB750 right?

Tapping sounds at low rpm - get some 0.002 and 0.003 feeler gauges and check your valve clearances - get a manual (shop manual is best - see FAQ -manuals) for directions on what to do.

Plugs- most auto stores will have NGK D8EA - this is what you need. You can also trim back the spark plug wires you have to ensure you get good spark.

For a quick carb clean try running some Seafoam through  -add a bit to the gas and run for 120 miles (~a tank full of gas) - auto store for seafoam :-). Also worth changing the oil and oil filter so you know where you are. Usual maintenance stuff first.

Good luck!
Andy

[CB noobie]

Hello Andy,

Yes, it's a cb750K4. I forgot to write that somehow, noobie mistake. 

I'm not mechanically inclined so I don't really get what you are saying except for the oil change and spark splugs/wires. I'll definately look at the manuals and try to fix it on my own.
I hope to learn a lot from this forum and thank you Andy for your words.

Young

[andy750]

Hey Young,
Most of us werent mechanically inclined when we first started out (myself included) so dont worry about it. 

Ill try and re-phrase the tapping sound diagnosis.....your engine has 8 valves  - there are 8 small valve covers on your engine head - they are each 6-sided 17mm (wrench size). Remove covers and you will see 2 valves per cylinder  -an intake valve (near the back of the engine) and an exhaust valve (located above the exhaust port). The tapping sounds MAY be coming from one of more of these valves. Why? Because the valve clearance may be too wide. You can check the valve clearances for both intake and exhaust valves for each cylinder - you have 4 cylinders. Id recommend getting the manual, read the section on checking valve clearances and then get back to us if you have problems or the tapping sound hasnt gone away.

good luck,
Andy